Slicing machine



` July Z7, 1937. l w. .1.` CAMPBELL.

sLIcING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1934 e sheets-sheet 2 QT 4 Y /Y www. l

July 27,` 1937. Iw. J.. CAMPBELL f SLICING'MACHINE l Filed Aug. 9, 1934 s sheets-sheet 3 .d l W@ w.'..1. cAMFuaELs.v '42,087,899

SLICINGA MACHINE 1 July 27,l 19314 6 Sheets-Shee 4 Filed Aug. 9, 1954 eli July :27, '1937.` rw. 4.1. CAMPBELL snIcING MACHINE `Filed Aug 9, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F ,6 H2. f4

July 27, 1937@ x l w. J. CAMPBELL '2,087,899

`SLIuING MACHINE 'l Filed Aug. 9, 1954 f n 6 sheetsheet 6 ;[3 W ffy/2 f2 ff l zwi/W2 5M/wfg Patented July 27,A 1937 UNITED STATES insists SLICING MACHHNE Y Application August 9, 1934, Serial No.V 739,104

17 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in slicing machines and has for one purpose the provision of an improved pusher plate actuating mechanism for the carriage of a .so-called manual feed slicing machine. Another purpose is the provision of improved means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate, in such type of machine, toward the cutting plane. Another object is the provision of ready means for connecting and disconnecting said yielding means. Another object is the provision of means for varying the force of said yielding means.` Another object is the provision of means for throwing the pusher plate away from the cutting plane when it is rotated upwardly from the carriage at a point adjacent the cutting plane. Another purpose is the provision of improved means for holding the pusher plate locked in inoperative position to permit the ready manual feed of material toward the cutting plane. Another object is the provision of improved guiding or securing means for holding and guiding work upon the carriage. Another object is the provision of improved means for preventing the pusher plate from moving forwardly into the cutting plane when moved adjacent the cutting plane. Another object is the provision of improved work engaging members for the forward portion of the cutting plane. Another object is the provision of improved sharpening means for the knife of a slicing machine.

Another object is the provision of improved work supporting means for supporting the work at the instant at which the slice is severed from the work.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan View with parts in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective showing the parts in a somewhat different position;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1; 50 Figure '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a vertical section through a portion of the sharpening means;

Figure 9 is a partial plan View of the struc- 5 ture shown in Figure 8; l

(Ci. Vlliii--llilm Figure l0 is a section on the line Ill--l of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a section on the line il-li of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a partial plan View and variant form illustrating primarily the carriage structure;

Figure 13 illustrates a modied form of the structure shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a variant form of spring support l0 for the pusher plate; and

Figure 15 shows a variation of the structure shown in Figure 14.

Like yparts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings. 1U

Referring to the drawings, A is a base having anti-frictional studs or rubber pads or the like A1 for contacting the counter or support.

B indicates any suitable motor which is provided with a drive pulley B1 about which passes 20 a belt B2 which in turn passes about a driven pulley B3 mounted on` a knife shaft B4 and serving to rotate it. The knife B5 is mounted on the same shaft and is therefore rotated in response to rotation oi the motor pulley B1.

A frame portion generally indicated at C exf tends up from the base and is shown as having integral therewith a sleeve portion C1 in which the knife shaft B4 is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner. C2 is a cover ior the housing 3o thus formed and C3 is a removable guard plate closing the `iront of the housing and masking the major part of the face of the knife B5. The knife B5 is shown as forwardly hollowed as at B6 and into this hollow penetrates the arcuate 35 edge C4 oi the guard plate C3. The guard plate y is oiset at its upper edges at C5 and is provided with a scraper C6 secured to the lower portion thereof and opposed to the knife. It may be held in position for example by lower securing means 40 C7 and upper securing screws C8, C9 which control spring clips C10 whereby the upper edge of the guard plate is locked in position. The details of the securing means do not of themselves form part of the present invention and therefore are not exhaustively indicated.

Forward tracks D, D1 are positioned in front of the cutting plane of the knife. Mounted thereon is a carriage structure generally indicated as D2 and including a bearing D3 surrounding one of the tracks D and a roller D4 engaging the outermost of said tracks. Said roller is held in operating relationship with the track as, for example, by the adjustable pin or stud D5 mount- 55 CII ed on the bracket structure D5 in which the roller D4 is rotatably mounted.

Mounted upon the carriage is a work supporting surface member E which is provided with a plurality of upward ridges E1 generally perpendicular to the cutting plane but which are broken by a level portion E2 which forms a gap through the ridges E1 extending from end to end of the member E in general parallelism with the cutting plane. At one end the member E is upwardly bent as at E3 to form a flange perpendicular to the cutting plane and also generally perpendicular to the member E as a whole. It has a rolled top E4 which is susceptible of use as a manual handle in actuating the carriage itself or in urging the work on the carriage toward the cutting plane. E5 is an additional manual handle located on a ange E5 which extends upwardly from the carriage and abuts against the member E3. It also has an upward extension E7 as shown in Figures l and l which may extend to the full height of the below described gauge plate. E is a knife guard member secured to the member E7 and perpendicular to it and so formed and positioned as to mask the cutting edge of the kniie when the carriage is at the end of its cutting stroke. E5 is a second flange at the opposite end of the member E and also perpendicular to the member E and to the cutting plane. It is mounted upon a bracket E10 which bracket is bolted or otherwise secured to the carriage as by the screws E11. Also bolted to the bracket E10 is a bar E12 upon which is mounted a rod E15 the opposite end of which is secured to the member E5. The rod E13 is held in position as by a lock nut E14 and is screWthreaded as at E15 into the member E12. It is provided with a reduced portion E15 the purpose of which will later appear.

Longitudinally movable along the rod E13 is a sleeve G which is also rotatable about the rod E13. It has an offset portion G1 to which is secured an abutment member G2 which when in the operative position as that in which it is shown in Figure e terminates closely adjacent the cutting plane or" the knife. It has 'a lug G3 aligned with the flat portion E2 of the work support E. The plate G2 may be rotated about the rod E13 but when in use it is in the position in which it is shown in Figure 4 and may be moved longitudinally along the rod E13, through a range which is almost as great as the distance between the iianges E3 and E9. When it is opposed 'to the ii'ange E9 it is then locked against unintended movement as by the plug G4 which is urged by the spring G5 controlled by the abutment screw G5 which also serves as a handle for moving the device. Preferably the loading of the spring G5 is such that the plug G4 with its tapered end G7 will rest in the slot E15 in the rod E13 and hold the member G2 rmly against the face of the flange E9 until the operator again wishes to use it. The loading of the spring is not enough, hown ever, to prevent an intended manual movement of the device. The sleeve G is sufliciently short so that when the member G2 is moved against a piece of meat or any ilexible material the pressure of the material is enough to bind the sleeve G on the rod E13 and thus more or less lock or hold the work in position against either the flange E3 or the flange E5, depending upon which ilange is being employed as an abutment for the work.

In this type of machine I prefer to use a gauge plate as shown, for example, at H, although the details of the gauge plate do not of themselves form part of the present invention. Any suitable means may be employed for moving and guiding the gauge plate- H toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife. I illustrate, for example, a supporting bracket H1 actuated a handle H2. To the rear of the cutting plane is any suitable slice receiving member herein incicated as H3. The inner edge of the gauge plate H is notched as at I-I4 to receive a slice or work support H5 which has a bevelled surface positioned generally at the level of the work support E. The work support H5 is mounted upon sup porting member H5 which has an arcuate edge I-I7 opposed to the cutting edge of the knife with a clearance increasing in the direction of rotation of the knife which is indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. Similarly the arcuate edge H2 of the gauge plate has an increasing clearance in the direction of rotation of the knife. This clearance is quite slight and hardly shows up in a drawing of the scale of those herein shown, but it will be understood that this increase in clearance in the direction of rotation of the knife does I may find it advantageous to have the slice support H5 formed integr-ally with the knife edge guard portion H5, the piece being removable as a unit from the slicing machine. Or I may make the slice support adjustable in relation to the knife edge guard portion H5.

We will next consider the pusher plate structure. In a slicing machine of the type in which a manually actuated carriage is employed in connection with a gauge plate, the thickness of the slice is determined by the setting of the gauge plate. the slice support E without the employment ci any pusher plate structure whatsoever. The de-n vice, when so used, is as shown in Figure 4. In such case the guide member G2 may either be in inoperative position against the iiange E5 cr it .cf

may be used to grip work against either the E5 or the iiange E3, at the convenience of the operator. When the device is to be employed in connection with a pusher plate the guide G2 be moved into inoperative position adjacent the .i

flange E9. The pusher plate structure, below dcscribed, can then be placed in operative position above the work support E. rlhe guide G2 may be made no higher than the thickness of a moderately thin piece of bacon so that, if the guide G2 is used, the bottom rows of extending prongs L2, L4 will contact the material which is crowded between the guide G2 and either ange E3 or E5. The pusher plate structure is as follows. I employ a guide pin J having a knob at the end J1 separated by a tapered neck J2 from the body of the rod. The head or knob has a sloped or reduced forward end J3. The pin or rod J may be secured in position upon the carriage structure as at J4 which is an extension from the member E10. It may be apertured as at J5 to receive a reduced portion J5 of the pin and this portion is held in place as by the locking nut J7. J 5 is an inclined fixed cam structure, shown., for example, in Figure 2, the purpose for which will later appear.

Slidable and rotatable upon the pin J is a sleeve K which has a plurality of terminal radial ns K1. It also has an offset to support a roller K2 opposed to the cam track J5. The sleeve K is provided also with a major offset extension K3 with a manual handle K4 on the portion thereof. This extension K3 terminates in a sleeve K5 which has another handle K5 associated therewith. The sleeve K5 is apertured to receive a rotating sleeve The work may be thrust manually across Krl through' which passes the screw K8 to which is connected the handle K6. The screw K8 is connected to a pusher plate structure which will be described in detail below. K10 is a nut on the screw K8 which serves as an abutment opposed to the frictional member K11 which is thrust by the coil spring K12 againstthe nut K10. The coil spring K12 has also for effect to cause a friction between the handle K6 and the sleeve K5 whereby rotation of the pusher plate structure in relation to the sleeve K5 is made sufhciently diicult to prevent an unintended relative rotation, while permitting ready intended manual rotation.

The pusher plate structure includes the main pusherplate member L which. is held against rotation in relation to the screw K8. t has forwardly extending points L1 and at the bottom downwardly and forwardly extending prongs L2 which preferably are so proportioned and disposed that their points are all in the same general plane as the points of the members L1. I also employ a rearwardly extending flange L3 having points or prongs L4 at the rear edge 'thereof as shown, for example, in Figure 10. They are also slanted forward as shown in that gure.

In order to limit the arc of relative rotation of the pusher plate L, I provide a stop L5 which is adjustable and is eccentrically mounted as upon the screw LfJl as shown for example in Figure 10. The stop L5 engages an abutment L7 which may for example be a fiber roller and which is mounted as by the screw L8 upon an offset K2 from the bracket K3. Rotary adjustment of the stop L5 varies the limit of rotation of the plate L in relation to the bracket K3 upon which it is mounted. To support the outer end of the pusher plate L, I provide a bracket or arm L1o which may have any suitable contact member L11 which may .be Yof ber and which rides upon the rolled top E4 of the flange E3. Also, the bracket L10 is so lproportioned as to serves as a stop, in connection with the member E7, to limit the movement of the outer end of the pusher plate toward the cutting plane and'to prevent any of the points or prongs of the pusher plate from getting into the cutting plane.

The sleeve K is freely rotatable about the rod J throughout the entire excursion of the sleeve K along said rod. However, as earlier mentioned, the cam J 8 serves as a throwout to withdraw the pusher plate rearwardly away from the cutting plane in response to a rotation of the pusher plate structure when it is within a predetermined distance of the cutting plane. When it is so withdrawn or' rotated at that point, at the termination of the camming retraction the knob K1 is properly positioned to be engaged by a latch M which is yieldably thrust as by the spring M1, into locking position. It has a slightly inclined locking surface M2 opposed to the knob K1 and an inclined surface M3 over which the knob can ride until it reaches the locking position and the spring M1 thrusts the latch M into the position in which it is shown in Figure '7. The latch M is slidably mounted in a sleeve M4 which is mounted upon or forms part of the member E10. Thus by a single easy movement of the hand the operator can rotate the pusher plate into inoperative position and it is held by the latchM in the position shown, for example, in Figure 4. In order to prevent the latch M from rotating I provide a screw M5 which engages a groove M6 extending along one side of the member M. It will' be noted that the inner bevel of the 'knob Kl1 conforms to the bevel M2 of the member M. M'I is a stem extending from the member lvl which terminates in an exterior portion M8 to which is secured a handle portion M9 as shown, for example, in Figure 3. M1o is any suitable securing nut. It will be clear thatthe hook shaped handle M9 is easily available for a manual release of the latch M, whereby the pusher plate can then be rotated back into operative position. I also provide an abutment member M11 which limits the movement of the pusher plate structure toward the sleeve M4. It is illustrated in Figure and is shown as adjustable and may be locked in any desired position as by the nut M12.

In order to provide means for yeldingly moving the pusher plate structure towards the cutting plane I illustrate a manually controlled handle generally indicated as and having a hook O1 and a prong O2 adapted to penetrate, at selection, any one of the circumferential notches K1 of the sleeve K. The member O is secured as by a coil spring O3 which in turn is anchored as at O4 to the carriage structure. The power of the spring is such that the operator can readily draw it out to engage it at will in any one of the cir- 0 cumferential notches K1. The tension of the spring is thereby subject to a certain adjustment or control, as the force directed by the spring is increased in ratio to the distance of the particular notch K1 K. When it is desired to release the prong O2 the operator may grasp the handle O1 and withdraw the prong O2 from the circumferential notch K1 and engage it on the side of the flange E9 as at E20. There is sufficient flexibility in the spring for this to be done readily and practically instantaneously by a simple movement of the hand. It is desirable to provide a reasonable flexibility of the spring but it is also desirable somewhat to limit its flexure or to give it some intermediate guide or reinforcement. This may be done in a number of ways. I illustrate in Figure 6, for example, a tube O which may be fairly rigid and which extends through a substantial part of the spring O3. It may be penetrated as by the pin O6 which slides in relation to it and which penetrates its central aperture. Preferably there shouldy be sufficient clearance so that enough lateral lexure is allowed to permit the prong O2 readily to be moved into and out of locking position and into and out of inoperative securing position at the point E20.

A variant form of obtaining the same result is shown in Figure 14 in, which a pin O25 is. employed with a taperedl end, the pin being fixed in relation to the carriage. This pin may be made solid `and rigid as in Figure 14 or it may havey substituted for it, as in Figure l5, a flexible rod O'Z6 with a tapered and enlarged head 027. In any case, it will be understood that some mean-s may be employed for more or less guiding and reinforcing the spring O3 while permitting suf-- ncient flexure to allow it readily to act. In the form of Figure 14 the pin O25 is sufciently tapered to prevent its passing through the coils of the spring, the spring being preferably rather tightly coiled. In the form of Figure 15 the pin O26 flexe-s somewhat with the spring.

An important feature of my device rests in the ready removability of the sleeve K from the pin J. This is illustrated, for example, in Figure 3, taken in connection, say, with Figure 6. The terminal knob J1 with its inclined or tapered outer end J3 can be ever readily engaged with the end of the sleeve K. When the sleeve from the inner end of the sleeve K is thus urged along the rod it engages the inclined surface J2, up which it rides. The result is a self-alignment of the sleeve E. upon the rod J which makes its application to the rod a very easy and simple matter. ThisV is a` rather important point as it is in practice rather difcult to align such a sleeve with a rod and avoid binding and diflioulty in application which is delaying and vexatious, especially when the operator is in a hurry to get an order sliced and, after having used the devic'e with the pusher plate structure entirely removed, is trying to put itY back on the machine preparatory to cutting some material. Also, the length of the sleeve K tends to prevent binding, once it is aligned with the rod J.

I illustrate in Figures 8 and 9 an improved sharpening device for the knife. It includes in the main a sharpening structure or lever P pivoted as at P1, upon any suitable screw or bolt. The pivot point is generally in or closely adjacent the cutting plane of the knife or rather the plane of the body `oi" the knife, although a slight Variation is immaterial. The lever P has a continuing handle P8 which extends through the cover C2 through any suitable aperture. I employ a spring rod P2, one end of which is secured as at P3 to the lever P. Its other end is: secured as at P4 to an adjustable support P5 which may be held in any adjusted position as by the screw P5 passing 'through the slot P7, whereby the location of the spring P2 may be varied in relation to the opstanding frame portion of the slicing machine. Mounted upon the lever P are a plurality oi sharpening elements indicated as P9 and P19 respectively, one being opposed to each side of the edge of the knife. The spring P2 is preferably so set as to keep both sharpening devices in neutral position. The operator, by thrusting the handle P9 in one direction, engages one of the sharpening members with one side of the cutting edge. When he thrusts the handle in the opposite direction ne engages the other sharpening member with the opposite edge of the knife. rIhe force with which the sharpening members are applied is entirely manually controlled. Only one can be engaged at once, and unless the operator is actually applying force to the handle P2 neither sharpening device is engaged. The sliai'pei' j member can also be vertically adjusted on the screw P1. It is provided, for example, with a sleeve P12 surrounding the screw, its downward movement being limited by any suitable abutment or washer P13 against which it is normally thrust as by the spring P14. The screw P1 is itself screwthreaded into an upper portion of the frame as at P15, and as it is rotated as by the screw driver slot P1G it moves up and down and thus raises or lowers the sleeve P12. P17 is any suitable lock nut. 'Ihus, as the knife wears down, the location of the sharpening mechanism may be lowered to compensate for the wear or, when a new and larger blade is applied, it may be raised to compensate for the increased diameter of the new knife blade.

I illustrate in Figures 12 and 13, a slight variation in the employment of the intermediate support or guides between the iianges of the work support. I illustrate, for example, the rod S mounted at one end on the straight bracket S1 and at the opposite on the crooked or extension bracket S2. This extension gives room for the sleeve G to move suiiiciently far to the left, referring to the position of the parts in Figure l2, to permit the blade G2 to abut against the left hand work engaging flange E3. Where but a single member G2 is employed this permits it to move through an excursion substantially equivalent to the ydistance between the opposed flanges. Where two of the members G2 are employed, as is shown in Figures 12 and 13, then one of the guides G2 may be moved into opposition to one of the anges E3 and the other be moved at the sam-e time into closed opposition to the other ilange E9, or both of them may be moved into opposition with the flange E9 as shown in Figure 13. In Figure 13 a further 'variation is shown, in order to make this possible, namely the mounting of one of the members G2 on an offset bracket S3 on one of the sleeves G which rides on the rod S.

Where two of the guides G2 are employed, as shown in Figure 13, two pieces of material can be sliced in the machine at the same time, one being crowded against the ange E3 by one of the guides G2 and the other being crowded against the flange G9 by the other guide G2. The user can slice two pieces at the same time by the use of the pusher plate, or he can slice one piece at a time by the use of the pusher plate. If he wishes to slice a piece of meat lying against the flange E9 only, when two pieces are on the carriage, he can move back from the cutting plane the piece which is lying against the flange E3. Of course, both pieces would be simultaneously moved toward the cutting plane by the action of the thrusting member, but one of them will be in the position to be sliced and the other would be so remote from the cutting plane as not to be sliced. This possibility of selectively slicing either one of two pieces, without removing either one of them from the carriage is radically new and highly advantageous. By being able to slice material on either side of the carriage the machine is convenient for a long armed as well as a short armed user. Where it is inconvenient to crowd the material against the flange E3, because of the location of the carriage, as on a shelf adjacent a wall, the material can be placed in contact with the flange E9 and held there by one of the guides or crowders G2.

The bracket or arm L19 may also be used as a handle for operating the pusher plate. This is a convenient method of operating the pusher plate because the user can put his thumb under the flange E4 and his hand over the flange E4 to reciprocate the carriage, using the index finger to reed the pusher plate with pressure against the member L19.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my specic showing.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, guiding ridges on said carriage, generally perpendicular to the cutting plane of the knife, said ridges having aligned interruptions extending in parallelism with the cutting plane, an intermediate ange movably positioned upon said carriage and movable along a path parallel with the cutting plane and an engaging member, associated therewith, and aligned with said interruptions and adapted to .maintain a supporting contact with the carriage as it moves therealong and through said interruptions.

2. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and awayfrom the cutting plane of the knife, ,a carriage and means for guiding it across the face `of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon the carriage and means for guiding it for movement toward 'and away from the cutting plane, including a kgenerally horizontal guide mounted upon the carriage generally perpendicu lar to the cutting plane, a supporting connection intermediate guide and pusher plate including a member longitudinally and rotatably mounted upon the guide and means, responsive to upward rotation of said supporting connection and pusher plate about the guide and away from the carriage, for retracting the pusher plate from the cutting plane of the knife, when the pusher plate, at the beginning of its rotation, is within a predetermined distance of the cutting plane.

3. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a' gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage andmeans for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon the carriage and means for guiding it for movement toward and away from the cutting plane, including a generally horizontal guide mounted upon the carriage generally perpendicular to the cutting plane, a supporting connection intermediate guide and pusher plate including a rmember longitudinally and rotatably mounted upon the guide and means, responsive to upward. rotation of said sup-porting connection and pusher plate about the guide and away from the i carriage, for retracting the pusher plate from the cutting plane of the knife, when the pusher plate, at the beginning of its rotatio-n, is within a predetermined distance of `the cutting plane, and latching means adapted to latch said pusher plate in raised position at the termination of a predetermined camming rotation.

4. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate mov- `able toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon the carriage and means for guiding it for movement `toward and away from the cutting plane, including a generally horizontal guide mounted upon the carriage generally perpendicular tothe cutting plane, a supporting connection intermediate guide and pusher plate including a member longitudinally and rotatably mounted upon the guide and means, responsive 4to upward rotation of said supporting connection v and pusher plate about the guide and away from the carriage, for retracting the pusher plate from -the cutting plane of the knife, when the pusher l plate, at the beginning of its rotation, is within a predetermined distance of the cutting plane, and latching means adapted to latch said pusher plate in raised position at predetermined camming rotation, including a member associated with the pusher plate and a plunger mounted upon the carriage, said plunger including an inclined surface. adapted to be overridden by the member on the pusher plate and a the termination of al radapted 'normally to hold said plunger in latching position.

5. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, .and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work Support on said oarriage having opposed and normally xed flanges at opposite edges thereof, transverse to the cutting plane of the knife, said flanges being of suliicient height to grip pieces of meat of substantial size, an intermediate flange movably positioned between said normally fixed flanges, and guiding means therefor adapted to maintain it, during its movement, in parallelism with said -Xed flanges, said intermediate flange being of the same order of height as the fixed flanges, .the opposed face portion of the intermediate and fixed flanges being adapted to grip therebetween the work supported on the carriage, said intermediate flange being operable against either of the normally fixed flanges, the guiding means for said movable flange being removed from the normal path of movement of the work, and securing means operable in response to clamping pressure between said movable flange and either of said xed flanges to secure said intermediate flange against movement. v Y

6. In a slicingV lmachine having a knife and means for actuating` it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from Vthe cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and vmeans for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on said carriage having opposed and normally fixed flanges at opposite edges thereof, transverse to the cutting plane of the knife, said flanges being of suilicient height to grip pieces of meat of substantial size, an intermediate flange movably positioned between said normally fixed flanges, and guidingmeans therefor adapted to maintain it, during-its movement, in parallelism with said fixed flanges, said intermediate flange being of the same order of height as the fixed flanges, the opposed face portion ofthe intermediate and fixed flanges being adapted to grip therebetween the work supported on the carriage, said intermediate flange being operable against either of the normally fixed flanges, the guiding means for said movable flange being removed from the normal path of movement of the work, and securing means operable in response to clamping pressure between said movable'flange and either of said fixed flanges to secure Said intermediate flange against movement, said guiding means being adapted to permit said intermediate movable flange to move through a range substantially equal to the distance separating the twonormally fixed flanges.

7. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of *be cutting plane of the knife, and a pluralityr ing flanges extending upwardly from the surface of the work support in general perpendicularity to said support, and to generally the same height, the opposed faces of the fixed and movable flanges being adapted to grip the work positioned on the work support, one of said moving flanges being operable against one of the fixed flanges, and the other being operable against the other, the two movable iianges being adapted also to compress the material therebetween, and guiding means for said movable flanges, and securing means for said movable iianges, said guiding and securing means being positioned at a point removed from the feed trough space defined between the fixed iianges.

8. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on said carriage and a pusher plate mounted for movement above said work support toward and away vfrom the cutting plane of the knife, a guide,

along which said pusher plate is slidably movable, and means. for yieldingly urging the pusher plate toward the knife, including a coil spring secured to the carriage at one end, adjacent the lcutting plane, and extending in general parallelf spring being freely flexible laterally toward and away from said guiding means and pusher plate.

9. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on said carriage and a pusher plate mounted for movement above said work support toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a guide, along which said pusher plate is slidably movable, and means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate toward the knife, including a coil spring secured to the carriage at one end, adjacent the cutting plane, and extending in general parallelism with said slidable guiding means, a handle and catch mounted on the other end, and supported by said spring, and means, associated with sad pusher plate, for receiving said catch, said spring being freely iiexible laterally toward and away from said guiding means and pusher plate, and a rigid guide for said spring, shorter than the spring, adapted to limit the iiexure of a portion of said spring, while permitting ready and substantial lateral flexure of the outer end of the spring and catch.

l0. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on said carriage and a pusher plate mounted for movement above said work support toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a guide, along which said pusher plate is slidably movable, and means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate toward the knife, including a coil spring secured to the carriage at one end, adjacent the cutting plane, and extending in general parallelism with said slidable guiding means, a handle and catch mounted on the other end, and sup-ported by said spring, and means, associated with said pusher plate, for receiving said catch, said spring being freely flexible laterally toward and away from said guiding means and pusher plate, and a exible guide for said spring, adapted to permit lateral iiexure of the spring suflicient to allow the engagement of the catch with the pusher plate.

1l. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on said carriage and a pusher plate mounted for movement above said work support toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a guide, along which said pusher plate is slidably movable, and means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate toward the knife, including a coil spring secured to the carriage and extending in general parallelism with said slidable guiding means, a handle and catch mounted on and supported by said spring, and means, associated with said pusher plate, for receiving said catch, said spring being freely flexible toward and away from said guiding means and pusher plate, said pusher plate being provided with a plurality of members adapted to receive said catch, said receiving members being located along said guide at varying distances from the cutting plane of the knife, said members constituting a plurality of concentric longitudinally spaced cups positioned along said guide.

l2. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plate and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on l said carriage and a pusher plate mounted for movement above said work support toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a guide, along which said pusher plate is slidably movable, and means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate toward the knife, including a coil spring secured' to the carriage and extending in general parallelism with said slidable guiding means, a handle and catch mounted on and supported by said spring, and means, on said pusher plate, for receiving said catch, said spring being freely flexible toward and away from said guiding means and pusher plate, the catch receiving means on the pusher plate including an annular flange surrounding the axis of Said guide.

13. A pusher plate for slicing machines, which includes a plate, means for holding and guiding it in generally vertical position, a row of downwardly and forwardly inclined points at the lower edge of said plate and a unitary flange secured to the lower edge of said plate` at one edge and having a plurality of downwardly and forwardly inclined points extending from its opposite edge, the points of said flange and of the lower edge of the pusher plate all terminating in substantially a single and generally horizontal plane, and a plurality of points extending forwardly from the forward face of the pusher plat-e, the first mentioned points along the lower edge of the pusher plate lying in a generally vertical plane common to the ends of said last mentioned points.

14. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, and a gauge plate movable toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of the gauge plat-e and past the cutting edge of the knife, a work support on said carriage and a pusher plate mounted for movement above said work support toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife, a guide, along which said pusher plate is slidably movable, and means for yieldingly urging the pusher plate toward the knife, including a spring secured to the carriage at one end, adjacent the cutting plane, and extending in general parallelism with said slidable guiding means, a handle and catch mounted on the other end, and supported by said spring, and means, associated with said pusher plate, for receiving said catch, said spring being freely flexible laterally toward and away from said guiding means and pusher plate.

l5. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon the carriage and means for guiding it for movement toward and away from the cutting plane, including a generally horizontal guide mounted upon the carriage, generally perpendicular to the cutting plane, a supporting connection intermediate guide and pusher plate including a member longitudinally and rotatably mounted upon the guide and means, responsive to rotation of said supporting connection and pusher plate about the guide' and away from the carriage, for retracting the pusher plate from the cutting plane of the knife, when the pusher plate, at the beginning of its rotation, is within a predetermined distance of the cutting plane.

16. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon the carriage and means for guiding it for movement toward and away from the cutting plane, including a generally horizontal guide mounted upon the carriage, generally. perpendicular to the cutting plane, a supporting connection intermediate guide and pusher plate including a member longitudinally and rotatably mounted upon the guide and means, responsive to rotation of said supporting connection and pusher plate about the guide and away from the carriage, for retracting the pusher plate from the cutting plane of the knife, when the pusher plate, at the beginning of its rotation, is within a predetermined distance of the cutting plane, and latching means adapted to latch said pusher plate in raised position at the termination of a predetermined camming rotation.

1'7. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it, a carriage and means for guiding it past the cutting edge of the knife, a pusher plate mounted upon the carriage and means for guiding it for movement toward and away from the cutting plane, including a generally horizontal guide mounted upon the carriage, generally perpendicular to the cutting plane, a supporting connection intermediate guide and pusher plate including a member longitudinally and rotatably mounted upon the guide and means, responsive to rotation of said supporting connection and pusher plate about the guide and away from the carriage, for retracting the pusher plate from the cutting plane of the knife, when the pusher plate, at the beginning .of its rotation, is within a predetermined distance of the cutting plane, and latching means adapted to latch said pusher plate in raised position at the termination of a predetermined camming rotation, including a member associated with the pusher plate and a plunger mounted upon the carriage, said plunger including an inclined surface adapted to be overridden by the member on the pusher plate and a locking surface adapted lockingly to engage said member after the member has overridden the rst mentioned inclined surface, and yielding means adapted normally to hold said plunger in latching position.

TILLIAM J CAMPBELL. 

